The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-29
PAINTERS FRANKS.
Some Pleasant Stories - Tricks
Played by Paris Art Students.


Messrs. Robinet and Boudinier, members
of the Institute, were comfortably seated
stirring their coffee in the smoking room of
their colleague, Cabasson, when the latter'S
servant came in and informed his master
that he was needed at the school Of Fine
Arts.
''Who wants me-" exclaimed, with a
show of bad humor, Cabasson, who was
Just thea lighting a cigar.
~ don't know. SIR" replied the domestic
Cali right. Tell them to wait" said
Cabasson and when the door closed behind
the servant he continued: 'That brute
meyer knows any thing.n
He puffed away for few seconds, then
arising abruptly he said: "After all,
might as well see about it and get through
at once And he went out. A few minutes
later the door of the smoking room flew
open, and Mr. Cabasson, member of the In
stitute appeared on the threshold, his face
as red as ripe tomato, his eyes flaming
with anger.
''Why, what is the matter!" inquired
both Ropinet and Boudinier at the same
tune
"Do you knowwhat those devils have just
.dones" exclaimed Cabasson, the painter,
folding his arms and striking tragical at
'titude.
4'What devils9"
S'My students, as a matter of course"
''No. What?"
+'Well, they took advantage of the fact
that a good old countryman, an uncle to one
of them, had dropped in to see his nephew.
They coaxed the old fellow into the studio,
and. stripping him of his Clothes tattooed
his body and limbs till he looked like a
savage, after which they sent him out into
the streets in that outlandish costume"
Mr.. Boudinier, of the Institute, who still
had his cup in his hand, burst out in
hearty laugh, which soon terminated in a
choking fit brought on by some of his coffee
taking the wrong passage down his throat.
''You find that very funny, don't you"
exclaimed Cabasson in towering rage.
H'Well, how can 1 help it!" inquired Mr..
Boudinier, Jokes of that kind always
amuse me-"
Chang it, they don't amuse me-" said
Cabasson, land I'll prove it right away"
CHOW so?r
1'By kicking every one of them out"
NWhat! your students!" asked Mr.. Robi-
net. ''Pshawl you take things too much to
heart. Here, have some coffee, and think
i will agree with you that the joke was car
ried rather far, butthen, we have done just
as bad ourselves.n
'Just as bad, if not worse" added Mr..
oudinier.
"We!" exclaimed Mr.. Cabasson. 'No!
Never"
''Come, now! Were we not young our
selves once upon a time!"
CAS- young as you please, but we never
were guilty of such outrageous behavior!
MOI Morbleu, never!"
''Do you think not? Well, just let me
tell you what did once, 1 who speak to
YOU at this moment"
''Well, fire away, if it amuse you, but
hurry up.''
'1t was In the studio of Father Bertrand.
You remember him, don't you? On the
Quay de Cont, exactly, that's it, between
the Institute and the Mint. We were
about fifteen rascals there at the time, and
we could easily have discounted those
whom you style your devils. This story
will prove the truth of the assertion.
ut was one of those fine, warm, sunny
days of June that awaken in the youthful
brains of sixteen an irresistible craving to
go where there are green leaves and grass,
a desire to escape from Paris like drove
of colts flying from an unlocked stable.
One of those desires had seized us. Chatou,
MeudOn, Bougival, there was but the
trouble Of choosing. No, there was another
troubled We turned our pockets inside
out, and the whole fifteen could only scrape
together three francs and a half. What
were we to do9 1t was then that one of US
had an idea worthy of a genius.
-'Ten steps beyond our studio, in hollow,
we had noticed a double door, What could
there be behind itl We know that it was
an extensive hollow, kind of subterranean
cave, reached by a stairway, where the
'crosSing-sweepers put away their brooms
ln five minutes our plans were decided on.
Two would watch along the quay TO give
warning Of the approach of the police. Two
Others forced the lock. In less than fifteen
minutes the cellar was transformed. The
0rooms were piled up in a corner Fonr
benches were brought down from the studio
and placed in rows as at a theater. Two
red curtains concealed the farther wall. A
dozen candle.ends, in a row on a fifth bench
did duty as footlights, and the hall was
ready for the audience.
What audieucel Why, the1passers-by, Of
course. 1t is only necessary to attract
them. This is the business of the three
stationed at the entrance which had been
covered with two flaming red curtains, the
second set of the studio, giving our cellar
nil the appearance of an outlaudish tent.
walk in, gentlemen, walk in! 1t costs but
a trifle; only twenty sous to see the most
wonderful curiosity in Paris. No, madam,
not you; ladies and children are not admit
ted. Only men are allowed in to see this